Cottonwood Chronicle

Everything we have talked about concerning the representation of Jesus Christ on behalf of humanity depends upon his representation of God to mankind. Jesus said to see him is to see the Father (John 14:9). Paul says Jesus is the very image of God and the fullness of the deity dwells in him (Colossians 1:15, 19). His very name, “God with us,” expresses an intimate representation of Godhead to mankind (Isaiah 7a;14, Matthew 1:23). Indeed Jesus is God himself, the Word, the Eternal Son made flesh (John 1:1-5, 14, Colossians 1:15-29). It is in Jesus that God kept his promise of returning to his people and dwelling with them.
We must understand; it is not possible to have relationship with God apart from Jesus Christ. There is no plan B. Jesus Christ has always been the only way to salvation. It has always been Jesus Christ alone who represents God to humanity. All representation that came before him were types and illustrations of Jesus the antitype.
One of the things I’ve noticed as a Christian and as a pastor and chaplain over the last 40 or years or so, is how people often reveal their spiritual state in the way they talk about God. Plenty of people are happy to pontificate concerning their wonderful relationship with God; far fewer are able to articulate how their affinity with God depends upon Jesus the Christ. When I have opportunity, I will press a person for details concerning their understanding of salvation. I have lost count of the times someone has assured me they have an agreement with “the man upstairs.” At that point, I will ask them what they know about Jesus. Unless a person is able to correct my perception of their belief system, I will take opportunity to share the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is crucial for every person to know that they cannot have any relationship with God apart from Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, the Father does not know them. Without Jesus, they are destined for eternity in hell. No amount of positive feelings for a vague “man upstairs” will matter.
It is an unalterable fact that no one can know the father apart from the son. No one can be at peace with God without Jesus as Lord and Savior. There is no hope for eternal blessings without Jesus, God with us. As the Bible plainly says, for God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).
All of the five spiritual laws are important, but the principle of representation must be understood completely in order for a person to experience the new birth. Each individual must understand that Jesus represents them before God and that Jesus also represents God to them.